RUNNING CATCH — Fairmont centerfielder Ava Gillmore (left) tracks down a shallow fly ball for an inning-ending catch during Big South Conference softball action against St. Peter on Monday night at Cardinal Park in Fairmont. Cardinal shortstop Brylee Miller (1) watches the web gem. (Photo by Greg Abel)

FAIRMONT — Fairmont centerfielder Ava Gillmore’s top of the fourth inning-ending running catch and teammate Chantel Moeller’s shutout-spoiling RBI single in the home half of the frame proved pivotal in the Cardinals earning their 10th win of the season on Monday night.

Fairmont’s Tegan Livesay continued her dominating ways inside the chalked circle by recording a game-best 13 strikeouts to pace a four-hit complete-game shutout to deliver a 5-0 Big South Conference loss to the St. Peter Saints at Cardinal Park.

“Tegan was not quite as sharp as usual, but she was still good — very good today in the adverse weather conditions,” Fairmont head coach Cory Hainy said in reference to the 25 mph winds that played havoc with each pitch and fly ball. “I know it sounds odd, but it was good to see us have to play defense and then to make some solid plays in the field behind Tegan.”

“It didn’t seem like I had that many strikeouts today,” said Livesay, who has generated a single-season school-record 18 strikeouts against New Ulm Public, St. James Area and New Ulm Cathedral this spring.

Livesay helped her own cause by displaying her defensive prowess to work around St. Peter singles in the second and third innings.

After Auden Anderson reached on a one-out hit in the second, Livesay fielded Cali Cross’ bunt and fired to first for the key putout. The Fairmont senior right-hander then escaped unscathed in the third by gloving an infield popup to strand Maya Pettis and Riley Rubischko at first and second. Pettis drew a rare walk from Livesay and Rubischko reached on an infield hit.

Gillmore’s sprinting catch on Kali Erickson’s two-out shallow fly ball with a runner on third base turned the Saints away empty-handed again in the fourth. Isabel Putz lined a leadoff single to create the threat.

“It took us four innings, but we finally got our bats going,” said Hainy. “Once we scored, it seemed to swing the momentum in our direction.”

Anna Ehlert and Livesay produced back-to-back singles against Anderson to trigger Fairmont’s fourth at-bat. Ehlert wheeled to third on Nevaeh Rahm’s fielder’s choice before Chantel Moeller drilled an RBI single into the right-center gap for a 1-0 lead.

The Cardinals took a page out of the small-ball strategy book to generate two more runs in the last of the fifth. Emily Muller singled, moved to second base on Gillmore’s sacrifice bunt and scored when Kynlie Anderson’s bunt was thrown away at first base. Brylee Miller singled and Ehlert drew a walk to load the bases before Anderson crossed the plate on Livesay’s RBI fielder’s choice.

Chantel Moeller served as the Cardinals’ offensive catalyst in the sixth again, lining a leadoff single before courtesy runner Ilana Moeller eventually gained third base after Abi Sundeen was plunked and Emily Muller legged out an infield hit.

Ilana Moeller scored when Gillmore’s hard grounder to short was mishandled before Miller singled home Sundeen with a cued hit inside the right-field line for a 5-0 lead in the sixth.

Livesay sealed her complete-game gem by striking out five of the final six batter she faced.

Chantel Moeller, Emily Muller and Miller each collected two of the Cardinals’ eight hits.

Fairmont (10-1) plays host to Marshall in a 4 p.m. league doubleheader on Thursday at Cardinal Park.

STP       000 000 0 — 0 4 2

FMT      000 122 x —  5 8 0

Auden Anderson (LP), Kali Erickson (6) and Cali Cross. Tegan Livesay (WP) and Chantel Moeller.

LOB–Fairmont 7, St. Peter 5. SAC–Ava Gillmore (FMT) and Kynlie Anderson (FMT).

Gabby Leiding belted a pair of triples to power Fairmont to an 11-8 victory over St. Peter during junior varsity action Monday.

Leiding also recorded five strikeouts without issuing a walk in seven innings pitched to earn the complete-game win.

Makayla Lowry and Maddy Landin each generated two hits to add punch to the Cardinals’ offense, while Jadyn Musser, Jayda Healey, Makenzie Lowry and Tiffany Lowry each contributed hits to the winning performance.